Lakemoor set to add Morrison Park land

The Lakemoor Village Board voted to buy 611 Route 120, a 10-acre lot that runs west from Morrison Park, for $250,000 using village reserves.

The property was appraised at $255,000, said Matt Dabrowski, director of community and economic development. A closing date has not been set.

Once that date has been determined, the village will make a timeline for cleaning up the property and removing overgrown brush there, he said, adding that they’re hoping to get to it this fall.

The property is made up of 3 acres of land – vacant except for a brick tower that kind of looks like a castle – and 7 acres of Lily Lake, Dabrowski said.

The plan is to renovate the tower, which dates to the 1920s or 1930s, he said. The history behind the tower isn’t known, but it’s being looked into.

The village also plans on continuing the walking path along Lily Lake, Village President Todd Weihofen said. The village’s comprehensive plan proposes a trail circling the entire lake.

A time frame hasn’t been set for that improvement, he said, adding that it fits into the Village Board’s long-term plan for the lakefront. The board has discussed coming up with a project to revitalize the lakefront and assessing the possibilities of dredging the lake.

The village owns about 40 percent of Lily Lake, Dabrowski said. The new purchase will extend the village’s control over the lake, which helps with maintenance.

The goal is to ultimately make the whole lake public, he said.

In the meantime, the added space will help with crowded village events, Weihofen said.

“When we do our Lakemoor Fest, it’s packed solid,” he said. “It’s a good place to fish and there are picnic benches. It’s a really nice open space.”